INTRODUCTION
In the previous post, we discussed “What is Pranayama”, and now in this article, we will talk about the essential components of Pranayama, without which Pranayama cannot be done. All these together constitute the different methods of Pranayama, by applying them in different ratios and combinations. Just as hands, legs, head, etc. together make up the body, in the same way, these 3 components together make up Pranayama. These are the essential constituents of Yogic Pranayama.
In this article, we will cover –
- How many components are there in Pranayama?
- Puraka (Controlled Inhalation)
- Kumbhaka (Controlled Retention)
- Aantaha Kumbhaka (Internal retention of prana)
- Bahya Kumbhaka (External retention of prana)
- Rechaka (Controlled Exhalation)
- A complete cycle of pranayama with 4 components
HOW MANY COMPONENTS ARE THERE IN PRANAYAMA?
There are three essential components of pranayama, which are mentioned and used in different Hathyogic texts like Hathapradipika, Gheranda Samhita, Hathatattvakaumudi, etc, as well as in some other scriptures like Shiva Purana, Yogopnishads, etc. These 3 components are
Puraka (Inhalation of breath/ prana)
Kumbhak ( Retention of breath/ Prana) and
Rechak (exhalation of breath/ prana)
Kumbhaka further has 2 types, due to which, we can say that there are 4 components of pranayama. Lets understand all of them one by one.
PURAK (INHALATION OF BREATH/ PRANA)
Puraka is that part of Pranayama, in which we inhale. This is the inhalation of air. During the practice of Pranayama, we inhale in different ways sometimes we inhale from the left nostril the (left nostril is also called Ida Nadi in yogic terminology) by blocking the right one,
and sometimes we inhale from the right nostril (also called Pingla Nadi in yogic terminology) by blocking the left one, we can also inhale from both nostrils parallelly, which completely depends upon the type of Pranayama we are going to practice.
In Hatha Yoga, Puraka is used for complete inhalation and not a superficial one, here we use the full capacity of our lungs. During the practice of Pranayama, it is advised that while inhalation one should fill the lungs completely and smoothly without any jerk. While doing Puraka the practitioner should feel that with the inhaled air, positivity, strength, and divine energy of the universe are entering into his body.
KUMBHAK (RETENTION OF BREATH/PRANA)
Kumbhaka is the third and most important part of Pranayama, as it creates the difference between normal breathing and the yogic Pranayama. In normal breathing, we simply do inhalation and exhalation; we do not retain the air, inside or outside the body. The meaning of Kumbhaka is retention; this is about the retention of the prana, the vital energy.
This Kumbhaka is further divided into two types
Antaha Kumbhaka/ Internal Retention of Prana and
Bahya Kumbhaka/ External Retention of Prana.
In Antaha Kumbhaka/, we retain the prana air inside our body after inhalation, so during this Kumbhaka, air/ prana remains inside. One should retain the air inside as per his or her capacity and after that exhale smoothly.
while in Bahya Kumbhaka we retain the air outside after exhalation. so, during this Kumbhaka, air/ prana remains outside. One should retain the air outside as per his or her capacity and after that inhale smoothly.
Practice Kumbhaka only under expert guidance
RECHAK (EXHALATION OF BREATH/ PRANA)
Rechak is that part of Pranayama, in which we exhale. This is the exhalation of air. During the practice of Pranayama, we exhale in different ways, sometimes we exhale from the left nostril by blocking the right one, and sometimes we exhale from the right nostril by blocking the left one, we can also exhale from both nostrils parallelly, which again completely depends upon the type of Pranayama we are going to practice.
In Hathayogic texts Rechaka is used for complete exhalation and not a superficial one, here we try to empty out the lungs. During the practice of Pranayama, it is advised that exhalation should be done slowly and smoothly without any jerk. While doing Rechaka the practitioner should feel that with the exhaled air, anger, lust, greediness, anxiety, sadness, disease, etc. are going outside the body.
A COMPLETE CYCLE OF PRANAYAMA WITH 4 COMPONENTS
Through the above discussion, now we can understand what the complete cycle of pranayama looks like and the sequence of each component. This could be comprehended by the following cyclic diagram.
LET’S SUM UP
By the above discussion about the components of Pranayama, we can conclude that these components ( Puraka, Kumbhaka & Rechaka) should be known to everyone who wants to practice Pranayama sincerely and accurately, Traditional Pranayama as mentioned in different Hatha yogic texts and other Indian scriptures constitutes these essential components. Pranayama is one of the vital practices among the different limbs of Yoga, and it is a practice through which we can control our mind, as breathing and state of mind affect each other. The practice of Pranayama has been done for many centuries and provides numerous benefits to mankind which are now proven scientifically also by different research conducted in different countries.
At the last, I just want to suggest practicing Pranayama under the supervision of a good Yoga expert to get the benefits and avoid any harm due to wrong practices.
“Pranayama is a skillful pause during normal breathing at different levels”
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